And Baker says young people who cannot afford to work for free are being "written off" by clubs such as the Royals.

"Reading are a Premier League club who have millions of pounds and they want someone to work unpaid for free for a year," Baker, who is a co-director at Intern Aware, told BBC South Today.

"That is not just unfair on the person who takes the role but it excludes those who cannot afford to work for Reading for free.

"It is quite an expensive area to live in and to work for a year, doing real work, is out of the financial reach for the vast majority of Reading fans and almost everyone else.

"So we think it is unfair and they should be paying at least the national minimum wage."

Reading said in a statement: "Many young people, however well qualified, find it very hard to obtain their first job because they do not have experience.

"Internships give these youngsters the opportunity to gain practical experience, thus enhancing their job prospects considerably. This season we received countless unsolicited applications for internships and formalising the process has been of great benefit to both sides.

Dream job?

Hold (or be in the process of completing) a postgraduate degree in performance analysis or sports science

Have a performance analysis background, with some previous experience of working in professional/semi-pro football

Hold a UK driving licence and have access to their own car

The position is full-time and will require the successful applicant to work unsociable hours from July 2013 - May/June 2014. The post holder will be required to attend all first-team home games and some away games

This role is unpaid and includes no travel expenses

"For many years, a huge number of organisations in all types of sectors have offered internships - for example it was said
(in a report by the NCTJ)
recently that eight out of 10 new journalists started their career in this manner.

"Companies continue to do so because they give genuine experience in a work environment.

"Indeed, a number of young people with intern experience have gone on to become permanent employees at our club, and another one signed his full time contract just this week."

"They do it at most clubs, it is quite widespread," he revealed. "It may not seem fair but if the person who has taken up the role then goes on to work for the next 40 years in the industry and make a good living, then it is fair."

Of the 10 jobs that are advertised on UK Sport's website offering internships at professional clubs, eight are unpaid while two offer a salary.

But Baker countered: "It may be a great opportunity for someone but [it] might not go to the best person with the best skills. Instead it will go to the person who can afford to work for free.

"It is not just unfair but it damages the reputation of Reading Football Club."

However Fletcher is adamant that the practice of unpaid internships should continue.

"If I had the choice of sending my son to go and work at a Premier League club for free or to stack shelves in a supermarket for 12 months, then I would send him to a Premier League club," he said.

After graduating I did exactly what Fletcher didn't want his son to do - stack supermarket shelves. I couldn't afford to take an internship. Two years and three promotions later I'm lining up another promotion - within the same company and i've got myself on the property ladder! No graduate should have to work for free-i got "genuine experience in a work environment" whilst being paid for my time

Football Focus should investigate this practice, which is widespread1. Would interns be eligible for unemployment benefit?2. Doesn't the practice discriminate against candidates who have no other means of supporting themselves - only interns from "wealthy" backgrounds can apply3. I wonder how much the highly paid players know & how much "boot" money they shared at christmas?

Professional clubs no matter the level are looking for something for nothing. This abhorrent practice will continue until action is taken by the sports governing bodies. Nobody once qualified should work for free!

This is utterly shameful, but becoming more and more common in what can only be described as unethical businesses - one such organization is the BBC itself, where hundreds of youngsters work for nothing or a pittance hoping they will get a job - eventually. Just because someone did it in the past does not make it right. Slavery isn't right but at least they got their accommodation and meals paid.

BBC links

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